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Bill > HB54

KY HB54

KY HB54
AN ACT relating to election districts.

summary

Introduced
01/07/2026
In Committee
01/14/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Create new sections of KRS Chapter 5 to establish the Advisory Redistricting Commission, which shall be composed of members appointed by the General Assembly and members of the public at large; define terms; establish commissioner pay, conditions, powers, and duties; provide that commissioners' terms correlate with obligations of each census cycle; establish the conditions, powers, and duties of the commission; require the commission to draft redistricting plans for legislative and congressional districts, with parameters prescribed; establish standards to be followed by the commission for commissioners who develop plans; require the commission to submit its redistricting plans to the Legislative Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on State Government; require the General Assembly to consider the commission's plans as approved by the Interim Joint Committee on State Government; allow the General Assembly to enact or reject the plans of the commission by a date certain or to return to the commission for adjustment; provide that if the General Assembly does not enact the plans, the plans shall be returned to the commission, which may incorporate changes requested by the General Assembly, but shall not be required to incorporate changes; require the commission to submit to the General Assembly new redistricting plans for enactment at a date certain; allow General Assembly to enact its own redistricting plans after a date certain; establish a $20,000 fine upon conviction of persons attempting to influence, or commissioners accepting influence, relating to the duties of the commission; amend KRS 5.005 to remove the Secretary of State as being named as a defendant in any action challenging the constitutionality of any legislative district and replace with the Advisory Redistricting Commission; provide that the Act may be cited as the Fair Maps Act.

AI Summary

This bill, titled the "Fair Maps Act," establishes an Advisory Redistricting Commission to draw new boundaries for state legislative and congressional districts after each U.S. Census. The commission will consist of fifteen members, with eight appointed by legislative leaders and seven selected from a pool of applicants vetted by the Secretary of State, aiming for diverse representation. Commissioners must meet specific qualifications, including being registered voters who haven't recently been involved in partisan politics or lobbying, and they will be compensated for their work. The commission is tasked with creating redistricting plans that adhere to strict criteria, such as equal population, geographic contiguity, and avoiding partisan advantage or favoring incumbents, while also considering communities of interest. After the commission submits its plans, the General Assembly will review them, with the possibility of enacting, rejecting, or returning them for adjustments. If the General Assembly fails to enact the commission's plans, they can then create their own. The bill also includes provisions for filling vacancies on the commission, outlines the commission's operational procedures, mandates public hearings and transparency, and imposes a $20,000 fine for attempting to improperly influence commissioners. Finally, it amends existing law to name the Advisory Redistricting Commission, rather than the Secretary of State, as the defendant in lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of legislative districts.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

to Elections, Const. Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs (H) (on 01/14/2026)

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